ACES // Artists of Color Expo & Symposium
ACES returns October 9-11, 2026, for a free, three-day celebration of BIPOC artists, creativity, and community.
ACES will take place at Washington 1000 (1000 Olive Way) in Downtown Seattle.
ACES is free and open to the public; all are welcome to attend.
Applications for artists, presenters, and exhibitors closed on August 1.
ACES 2026 PROGRAM
HOURS
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Friday, October 9 | 1:00-4:00 PM | Opening Night Party (RSVP Here) 5:30-9:00 PM
Saturday, October 10 | 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Sunday, October 11 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Damon Brown
Saturday, October 10 @ 11 AM
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Keynote Summary:
Damon Brown’s ACES 2026 keynote explores art as an act of care, drawing from their journey as an artist and their medical healing journey. Through reflections on self, family, and community, Damon will share how art can help us process change, identity, memory, and healing while creating meaningful connections. The keynote invites us to consider how creativity can help us care, connect, heal, and grow.
Bio:
Damon Brown, also known as Creative Lou, is a Seattle-based multidisciplinary artist working across public art, murals, illustration, painting, printmaking, and large-scale installations. His work is shaped by culture, community, and personal experience, often reflecting on identity, history, resilience, and the places people call home.
Brown’s work can be found throughout Seattle and beyond, including public art commissions and collaborations with the Brooks, Seattle Seahawks, Starbucks, and other organizations. Across these projects, he uses art to tell stories, honor lived experience, and bring people together. His practice is also connected to his own journey, using creativity to navigate change and create space for people to feel seen and represented.
EXHIBITING ARTISTS:
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Abraham Awalom, Adrian Pacheco, Ai-Chun Huang, Alice Kay Lee, Alti, Amira Willumson, Angela Liu, Ashley Tiedeman, Ashwinninng.art, Bodhi Ginsburg, Cheezymicron, Chloe Scott, Claudia Kimberly, Cryptic Novelties: ERR, Dahyun Kim, Daniel R. Smith, Deepika Rajendran, Elisheba Wokoma, Elizabeth Montes De Oca, Gabriela Garcia Greco, Hexe Fey, Jafer Feyisa, Jake Prendez, Jeremy The Creative, Jo Cosme, Karthika Kizhepat, Kelly Haejung Paik, Krittika Khanwalkar, Lauren M. Wong, Lily Gray, Maritza Leon, Mel Isidor, Mohamed Gabriel, Monique Hernandez, Morena Azul, Ning Wan, Omnijoyous, Oneyung Kim, Perla Hernandez, Rebecca Garcia Art, Rubin Quarcoopome, Sangmin Tang Lee, Shama Shams, Shruti Ghatak, Stephanie M. Silva Santana, Sung Kyun Park, Tatiana Garmendia, Yutong
THE CYPHER is a live art-making experience where artists respond to a shared prompt across multiple rounds, creating a cross-media dialogue in real time.
CYPHER ARTISTS
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ROUND 1: 2D ART | FRIDAY, 7 – 9 PM
- Artists: Shruti Ghatak, Perla Hernandez, Sangmin Tang Lee
ROUND 2: 3D ART | SATURDAY, 12 – 2 PM
- Artists: Lily Gray, Maritza Leon, Omnijoyous
-ROUND 3: LITERARY ART | SATURDAY, 2:30 – 4:30 PM
- Artists: Hexe Fey, Ning Wan, Dujie Tahat
2025 CYPHER RECAP VIDEOS
Emerald Seas Jewelry
Emerald Seas Jewelry makes handmade jewelry and bead weaving, including playful fruit and cat earrings. The work also includes more intricate landscapes and bead-woven miniatures of famous paintings in art history. Instagram: @emerald.seas.jewelry
Kaigani Craft
Basketry, woven jewelry, and block prints created by Jacinthe Demmert in her Seattle studio. Carrying forward the stories of her ancestors in creations of affectionately assembled cedar bark, spruce roots, wool, ferns, grasses, metal and glass. Instagram: @KaiganiCraft
Behind the Lense
Memory, immigration, identity, and belonging run through the work of Behind the Lense, a Seattle-based mixed-media artist and author. Black-and-white photographs begin on 35mm film and are hand-printed in a home darkroom, while mixed-media photographic transfers layer texture, paint, and chemical processes. The artist’s 2024 memoir won first place in the Multicultural Nonfiction and Asian American Nonfiction categories of the Independent Author Awards. Instagram: @artist_shamas
ARAE
Stories and kinship are the themes behind the beaded sculptures of ARAE. The Kinship Circles series represents the circles of kin, past and present, that surround each person. ARAE is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Arrow Lakes/Yakama) and worked with hand-dyed silk for a decade before turning to sculpture. Instagram: @arae_form
Art Vault Seattle
For seven years, Art Vault Seattle has provided free art supplies and creative resources as a 100% community-funded nonprofit. It also offers a free creative workspace and focuses on supporting Black and Brown artists, creatives, and underserved communities. At ACES, visitors can learn how to get involved and pick up free art supplies.
1029 Creates
Returning to ACES, 1029 Creates sells handmade ceramics displayed on folding wood shelves. The work falls into two lines, whimsical animal-themed objects and colorful patterned wares, made with techniques including wheel throwing, slip casting, and water etching. 1029 Creates has also taken part in Urban Craft Uprising, MAUM, and Smol Art Mart. Instagram: @1029creates
JKB Made For Me
Fiber arts and wearable art are the focus of JKB Made For Me, along with handmade dumpling dolls. The business donates 10% or more of its proceeds to local and national humanitarian causes. Past markets include Emerald City Comic Con and Urban Craft Uprising. Instagram: @jkbmadeforme
Dee Decors
Dee Decors was founded in 2025 to revive Kolam, a traditional South Indian geometric art form, and also creates dot mandala art. The artist teaches free community workshops, received the SWECHA Award for Women Entrepreneurs from the City of Bothell in 2026, and had a piece blending Kolam and dot art selected for the Northwest Folklife Festival gallery showcase. Instagram: @dee_decors_
The Introverted Potter
Every piece of pottery from The Introverted Potter is signed with an eye to protect its owner from the evil eye. The handmade ceramics are meant to bring joy to whoever owns them. Her work is inspired by color, heritage, and big feelings. The artist has shown work at markets including Making Local, Fae Fest, and Chub Hub Fest. Instagram: @the.introverted.potter
Olu Productions (UPtimistic Gear)
UPtimistic Gear apparel comes to ACES with Olu Productions, which also represents its program It’s Never 2 Early 2 Create & Innovate (N2E). N2E empowers Black youth through entrepreneurship, creativity, leadership, and financial literacy. Instagram: @oluproductionss
Way Lee Art
Way Lee Art is a Seattle artist creating intimate watercolor and ink paintings en plein air, capturing everyday scenes around Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The artist also makes illustrations, including book covers and self-written indie comics. Prints and cards of original paintings are available. Instagram: @wayleeart
Gabi & Fani
Gabriela Garcia Greco and Stephanie M. Silva Santana, as Gabi & Fani, each selling work they made themselves. Their offerings include paintings, drawing and illustration, printmaking, and zines. Both have participated in ACES before as artists and return this year as both artists and vendors. Instagram: @gabi.cosmos and @ilus13_
Ixtli White Hawk / Ancestral Sisterhood
Ancestral Sisterhood is a multigenerational community group that empowers Indigenous people living in urban Seattle through traditional art, song, dance, and storytelling. Ixtli White Hawk represents the group at ACES and also sells handmade printmaking, textiles, jewelry, stickers, digital prints, and wearable art. Instagram: @YOLTEOTLpress & @myindigenouslife
Wemoonwalkerz
Wemoonwalkerz is a Seattle mixed-media artist whose work uses bold color, intricate patterns, and abstract shapes to explore identity, community, and the human experience. The work spans paintings, photography, stickers, digital prints, and wearable art. The artist also collaborates with other artists and organizations on installations and public art projects. Instagram: @Wemoonwalkerz
Yolanda Galery Art
Paintings and digital art prints are the focus of Yolanda Galery Art, with some items produced from the artist’s original designs. A returning ACES vendor, they have also been a part of Juneteenth at NAAM, Pratt Summer Market, and the Downtown, Belltown, and Pioneer Square art walks. Instagram: @yolanda_galery_art
Uzz Buzz Art
Raised in Staten Island, New York, the artist behind Uzz Buzz Art worked as an award-winning photographer before discovering a new technique through scrap wood, applying ink to the scraps and transferring it to paper. Inspired by the shadow box constructions of Joseph Cornell, the artist combines both methods in paintings and shadow boxes, with a circle in almost every piece. Uzz Buzz is a member of the Kansas City Artist Coalition and InterUrban Arthouse. Instagram: @uzz_buzz
Morena Azul
Documenting Chicano barrio culture is the specialty of Morena Azul, a longtime Chicana artist. Her work spans paintings, drawing, photography, murals, and poetry, along with prints, stickers, jewelry, and wearable art. She also curates shows and helps organize community events centered on Chicano arts. Instagram: @morena.azul.llc
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
🎤 1 PM-2:30 PM | 100 Years of John Coltrane
Panel Discussion & Performance by:
Description:
This immersive panel discussion and performance-demonstration explores the life, legacy, and cultural impact of jazz legend John Coltrane. Presented by JazzReach’s acclaimed resident ensemble, Metta Quintet, the audience will be exposed to Coltrane’s artistic journey across four chapters, from his early years and formative experiences to his groundbreaking work with Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and his own quartet. The program highlights key periods of Coltrane’s career, including his years with Prestige, Atlantic, and Impulse Records, as well as his later explorations of avant-garde jazz. Alongside the performance, a clinic format allows students to engage directly with Metta Quintet musicians as they demonstrate techniques, ideas, and personal insights into the many facets of jazz performance. The experience offers an engaging way for students and audiences to connect with Coltrane’s music, creative evolution, and enduring place in American and global culture. Q+A portion with the musicians to follow.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
🎤 10:30-11 AM | Opening Remarks
Led by:
Dujie Tahat, Seattle Civic Poet
🎤 11 AM-12 PM | Keynote Speaker
Led by:
Damon Brown, Creative Lou
🎤 5-5:30 PM | An Ongoing Dialogue, Memory, Material, and Light
Panel Discussion by:
Description:
How Korean forms become a contemporary visual language through painting, sculpture, and light.
This visual and conversational presentation explores how Korean cultural forms and memories can become a contemporary visual language through painting, sculpture, mixed media, and light. Using forms such as the moon jar, bojagi, and jogakbo as starting points rather than subjects to reproduce, the artist will share how cultural heritage can inspire experimentation and new creative ideas. Through finished artwork, reference images, and process documentation, attendees will see how a single question or idea evolves across different materials and mediums. The presentation will trace the artist’s creative process and ongoing dialogue between color, material, light, memory, and cultural experience, followed by a brief audience Q&A. The goal is to encourage attendees to see their own histories, memories, and lived experiences as meaningful sources of inspiration for contemporary creative practice.
🎤 5:30-6 PM | From Tea Estates to The Artzoo: Finding Community through Abstract Art
Panel Discussion by:
Description:
From childhood memories in India to building creative community in Seattle through abstract art.
This 20-minute artist talk explores how childhood memories of Siliguri, India, continue to shape a Seattle-based abstract artist’s creative practice and visual language. Drawing inspiration from tea estates, mist-covered hills, architecture, and nature, the artist will share how these memories emerge through flowing forms, layered textures, luminous color, and the unpredictable nature of alcohol inks. The talk will trace the artist’s creative journey from discovering alcohol inks as a medium to developing an abstract practice rooted in personal history, emotion, and experimentation. It will also explore the creation of The Artzoo, a community-centered art practice that brings people together through accessible, collaborative art experiences across Seattle. The presentation will conclude with a reflection on how artists can use their personal stories to create meaningful work while also building spaces for connection, belonging, and creative community.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11
🎤 1-2 PM | Healing the People, Building Community Kinship Through Indigenous Ancestral Knowledge
Panel Discussion by:
Ixtli White Hawk and members of the Ancestral Sisterhood.
Description:
This panel with members of Ancestral Sisterhood explores ancestral memory, community abundance, intergenerational healing, youth empowerment, and the reciprocal relationships that connect and strengthen Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities.
This panel will hold conversation with members of the Ancestral Sisterhood. Ancestral Sisterhood is an Indigenous collective creating community kinship in Seattle through culture and traditional art. Art and culture holds memory, teachings, stories, healing, and joy. The conversation will discuss the importance of ancestral memory, community abundance, intergenerational healing, and youth empowerment. The conversation will also touch on the weaving of communities, and the many ways we are connected, holding a reciprocal responsibility of care. Really emphasizing the wealth of knowledge within all Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. When there are relationships in place, there is also a responsibility in how we show up for each other and how we hold ourselves accountable, and it gives an opportunity to empower youth into leadership roles.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
🪡 2 PM-3:30 PM | Stories in a Scented Pouch: Hand-Sew a Chinese Hebao
Led by:
Description:
Hand-sew a Chinese hebao while exploring stories of love, memory, and care.
In this 90-minute workshop, participants will learn about the Chinese hebao , a traditional scented pouch, through stories of love, memory, care, and cultural tradition. The workshop will begin with an introduction to the history and significance of hebao, alongside personal family stories that highlight how these handmade objects have been used to express love, friendship, protection, gratitude, and remembrance. Participants will then hand-sew their own beginner-friendly hebao using pre-cut fabric, simple stitches, and step-by-step guidance, making the workshop accessible to all sewing experience levels. Each participant will personalize their pouch with a meaningful scent or small keepsake, creating an object that connects them to a person, memory, or feeling. The workshop will close with optional reflection and sharing, creating space for connection and conversation while celebrating the value of slowing down and making something by hand.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11
🪡 10:30 AM-12 PM | Embroidery Landscape
Led by:
Description:
Stitch your memories into a mountain landscape using recycled textiles and embroidery.
Mountain Landscape: Embroidery, Collage & Memory is a hands-on 90-minute workshop inviting participants to create a small 4 × 6-inch landscape artwork inspired by my recent embroidered mountain series. Using recycled fabrics and collected textile materials—including knit fibers, seed beads, sequins, and metallic embroidery floss on silk—participants will combine collage and simple sewing techniques to build their own miniature mountain landscape, designed to be completed during the session.
I will begin by briefly introducing my artistic practice and explaining how mountains and landscapes function in my work as metaphors for identity, cultural memory, migration, challenge, and transformation. I will then demonstrate my process: selecting and layering recycled materials, composing a landscape, attaching textile elements, and adding embroidery and decorative details. Participants will follow these steps while making their own work, but will be encouraged to interpret the landscape through their own memories, cultural backgrounds, and experiences.
The workshop aligns with ACES’ mission by creating an accessible space for cultural exchange, experimentation, and storytelling while centering the creative voices and lived experiences of BIPOC participants. Rather than teaching a single “correct” way to make a landscape, I want to encourage participants to consider what a mountain, ocean, or horizon might represent in their own lives.
At this moment, when many communities are navigating questions of belonging, displacement, identity, and connection, landscape can become a powerful shared language. Reusing discarded materials also invites us to think about sustainability, resourcefulness, and the value of things that might otherwise be overlooked. Participants will leave with a finished postcard-sized artwork and a new way to transform everyday materials into personal stories.
📝 2:30 PM-4 PM | Write to Heal: A Reflective Journal Making Workshop
Led by:
Description:
A hands-on African Print journal-making workshop for healing and self-expression.
Write to Heal: A Reflective African Print Journal Making Workshop is a 90-minute, hands-on creative experience that invites participants to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore journaling as a practice of reflection, healing, and creative expression. Using vibrant African fabrics and mixed-media materials, participants will design and assemble their own journals before engaging in guided writing prompts centered on identity, resilience, gratitude, and future aspirations.
The workshop is intentionally interactive, encouraging participants to create at their own pace in a welcoming, judgment-free environment. While opportunities for conversation and storytelling will be offered throughout the session, sharing is always optional. My goal is to create a space where attendees feel empowered to express themselves through both visual art and writing, regardless of their artistic experience.
As a multidisciplinary artist and community facilitator, I believe creative practice is a powerful form of care that helps people process experiences, strengthen self-awareness, and build authentic connections with others. The African textiles used throughout the workshop serve as both an artistic medium and a celebration of cultural craftsmanship, reminding participants that everyday objects can carry stories, memory, and intention.
This workshop aligns with ACES’ mission by uplifting BIPOC artistic practices that foster community, storytelling, and collective care. At a time when many people are seeking meaningful ways to reconnect with themselves and one another, Write to Heal offers an accessible creative practice that participants can continue long after the workshop ends, leaving with both a handcrafted journal and tools to support their ongoing well-being and creative Journey.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 | 12-5 PM
In Spades, presented by Milli
A conversation on art and abundance, and what it means to be successful and sustainable as an artist and creative. Creativity is precious and necessary to our cultural survival – it’s how we grow, challenge and express ourselves and take in new points of view. But one aspect we don’t talk enough about is how to make a career in creativity and art not just sustainable but abundantly successful – whatever that means to you. With the headwinds we face from economic downturn, AI, social upheaval, and more, this conversation is as critical as it ever was.
SCHEDULE
12 PM | Genesis Dacayanan – Filmmaker / Director / Editor Creative Producer @ Milli
1 PM | Justin Jeffers – Freelance Filmmaker / Director / Cinematographer (Commercial, Narrative, Documentary)
2 PM | Lila Alexis Thomas – Painter & Educator
3 PM | Nakisa Dehpanah – Multidisciplinary Artist (Dance, Architecture, Mixed Media) & Bar Owner
4 PM | Jordan Nicholson – Freelance Photographer & Filmmaker
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 | 10:30 AM-1 PM
Scope Screening Alumni, hosted by LexScope
Scope Screenings brings Seattle’s independent filmmaking community to ACES with a curated program of films from Scope Screenings alumni, followed by an interactive workshop and live panel exploring what it means to be a director in 2026. Hosted by founder LexScope, the conversation takes audiences inside the creative process, from developing an idea to leading a crew and bringing a vision to the screen. Hear directly from local filmmakers, ask questions, and connect with artists shaping the future of film.
Featured Artist:
- Scope Screenings Commercials
- Kwabe // Derrek Nunn – “Wild Dreams”
- JJ // Jamil – “New Day One”
- Angela Moorer – “NW Explorer”
ABOUT ACES
ACES // Artists of Color Expo & Symposium is a BIPOC-led program produced by Shunpike that creates space for artists to be bold and create through experimentation and community intention.
